Pardon denied

Václav Klaus's decision yesterday not to grant a pardon to Nomura officials as part of the IPB settlement came as a relief to those wanting justice, but it raised broader questions. Finance Minister Vlastimil Tlustý said in HN on Fri. that neither he nor anyone else from the cabinet discussed a pardon with Klaus, yet Klaus said yesterday that he learned of the matter weeks ago and that certain consultations took place. Klaus's comment appears to expose Tlustý as a prevaricator. If Klaus truly refused to make a promise of a pardon, as he said yesterday, why did the cabinet go ahead with the pardon request? Was it intentionally misleading Nomura, or was it putting Klaus in an unfair position? By rushing forth with his decision, Klaus saved his image as a fair and impartial arbiter, but he also made the Topolánek cabinet look like a fool that can't be trusted. He killed two birds with one stone.